Make A Difference: Advance from Team to Family

Talent Plus Talent Plus

October 02, 2017 Blog Engagement

Every team is composed of people.
Effective teams are composed of people who are committed to working together toward shared goals.
Extraordinary teams have that same commitment to a shared vision, but the members of these teams have bonds with each other that go beyond “just work” and look a lot more like friendships and family relationships.

Advancing from team to family happens when people begin to care about each other’s lives outside of work – their personal aspirations, interests, and concerns. Also, teams that advance to family accept people as they are, celebrating their strengths without trying to change them.

Listen in to this week’s podcast as Larry Sternberg, Kimberly Shirk and I discuss:

  • The importance of trust in advancing from team to family
  • What managers can do to create the level of trust required
  • The signs that a team is making progress on that journey
  • The value of team-building events in that process (and the limitations)
  • How this all connects to the concept of team and organizational culture

We hope you’ll listen in this week. On all our podcasts and blog posts, you have an opportunity to talk back to us through comments and emails. We hope to hear from you! Until next time, manage to make a difference every day!

+ Larry Sternberg, J.D. and Kim Turnage, Ph.D.


This post highlights Chapters 37 and 38 of Managing to Make a Difference (Wiley), a handbook for hitting the sweet spot of middle management. Next up: The Great Takeoff Day. Connect with Kim Turnage and Larry Sternberg on LinkedIn to see their latest updates.

Talent Plus

Talent Plus

Talent Plus is a team of industry experts who collaborate to deliver insightful and impactful content. Our blogs are designed to provide practical advice and fresh perspectives, helping you stay informed and ahead of the curve.

Latest Posts: Blog

Blog November 04, 2024

High Employee Morale for the Holidays: How to Finish the Year Strong

No matter what industry you work in, the holidays can be stressful for your team. Learn strategies you can use to maintain high employee morale.

Talent Plus Talent Plus

Read More
Onboarding a new manager to a team

Blog October 22, 2024

Get Ready: Onboarding a Team Manager 

Discover the importance of effective onboarding for new managers. Learn how to maintain team culture while fostering growth and trust.

Talent Plus Talent Plus

Read More
30-60-90 day employee onboarding

Blog September 12, 2024

Get Ready: Building a 30 60 90 Day Onboarding Plan

Boost employee engagement and productivity with a well-crafted 30 60 90 day onboarding plan. Set new hires up for success from day one.

Talent Plus Talent Plus

Read More
Engaged Employees at Work

Blog September 09, 2024

Employee Engagement Strategies

Unlock the power of employee engagement strategies to boost productivity, retention and your organization's bottom line.

Talent Plus Talent Plus

Read More
Employee check-in at work

Blog August 27, 2024

Get Ready: Make Your Mid-Year Check-In Matter

Increase communication and build trust with an effective check-in. Learn how to have a productive conversation with our employee check-in template.

Talent Plus Talent Plus

Read More
successful team at work

Blog July 24, 2024

Go for the Teamwork Gold 

Discover the keys to building engaged workplace teams. Learn how coaching strategies can unlock your work team's full potential.

Talent Plus Talent Plus

Read More